I'm getting back to the form I've been looking for Marcus Trescothick

England begin the third day of the final Test at The Oval on 165-2, replying to South Africa's 484, and trailing 2-1 in the series.

Trescothick ended Friday's play on 64 not out and believes he is on the verge of a big score after a slow start to his innings on day two.

He watched from one end as Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher failed to build on solid starts, before playing some authoritative shots of his own by the end of the day.

And Trescothick admitted he had purposefully made a low-key start.

"I was just trying to focus on certain things that I had been working on, letting a few balls go," he said.

"I got myself in and it paid dividends in the end.

"It's been tough for me - I've had to dig in and grind out some scores here and there. But I've been battling through.

"I feel I might be touching something big - maybe not in this game, maybe not in the next - but I'm working hard and getting back to the form I've been looking for."

When play ended on day two Trescothick was building a partnership with Graham Thorpe, who finished 28 not out.

They are still 300 runs behind and we have to make sure we bowl well Shaun Pollock

"Thorpey did all right," said Trescothick.

"It was a big occasion for him playing his first game for a while, but he's very experienced, he's played in lots of pressure situations and handled it well."

And the Somerset batsman believes the match remains in the balance.

"We're going to have to play the same as we did yesterday, work really hard because they bowled really well at us," he said.

"You have to give them credit for the way they bowled on a good wicket, they bowled the ball in good areas.

"We're only two down and we have to make sure we don't worry about things and just try and bat as long as we can and see what happens after that."

Shaun Pollock had a fine day for South Africa, hitting 66 not out before claiming his 300th Test wicket.

"It is special as milestones don't come around very too often so when they do you should enjoy them," he said.

"It was also great the way I did it: Vaughan is rated as the best batter in England's line-up and has been at the top of the world rankings so that made it better.